Rockets fired at Tel Aviv stopped by Israel's Iron Dome

Two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at the Tel Aviv area on Thursday, setting off sirens, and several explosions were heard, the Israeli military and witnesses said.

The rocket fire raised speculation in Israel that Palestinian militants opposed to any deal between Hamas and Israel were behind the launchings. Videos posted online by locals showed empty streets and captured the blare of "code red" sirens, used to warn of imminent attacks. The officials arrived in the Gaza Strip earlier in the day for talks with Hamas leaders on a possible truce with Israel. The territory is home to other militant groups, including Islamic Jihad, an Iranian-backed armed organization that also has a formidable rocket arsenal. "It is responsible for what happens within the Strip and what emanates from it".

The anniversary of the Gaza border protests is in two weeks, on March 30 and Palestinian groups have been preparing events and march to mark the date. Still, the municipality asked residents to open bomb shelters as a precaution. "The time has come to defeat Hamas once and for all", he said.

Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis, the Israeli army's chief spokesperson, said officials had no prior warning of the attack and were trying to determine who fired the rockets. The situation on the Gaza border has reportedly escalated due to continued shelling and launches of arson balloons from Gaza into the Israeli territory, and the shooting and killing of protesters, medics, journalists and children near the border by IDF soldiers.